“Should we go in?” He gestured toward thedoors to the school and started to pull me that way.
I tugged back, the feeling that I shouldshow some vulnerability hitting me pretty hard. “I just don’t wantto let you down.”
He turned back to me and took both my handsthis time, putting his chin on his chest. “Ah, Amber, this is notthe time to feel unsure. You can do this. I know it.”
I let my head loll forward. “You know what?You’re right! I can do this.”
“That’s my girl. Just wow Alexander tonight,and you’re in.”
That wasn’t anything new. What I needed todo was get him to invite me to his uncle’s house somehow. If Icould manage that, I might be able to find some information onwhere they were shipping from. “What if I don’t, though? What then?He’ll hate me, won’t he?”
“Once you know him better, you’ll see, he’spretty great.”
Now that I had my foot in, and he wasthinking about me getting to know his uncle better, I would leaveit and get back to it later. “I hope so. I’d really like to getthis to work.” Now it was time to play a little hard to get withhim. I looked pointedly at his hands holding mine. “I also don’tknow you well enough to be holding your hands. No fair takingadvantage of my vulnerability.”
He smiled and brought one of my hands to hislips. “A little vulnerability looks good on you.” He raised oneeyebrow. “But only a little. In time, you’ll come to trust me,too.” He led me inside and school started as usual.
On my way to second period, I ran intoCarson. His face was clean-shaven, and he had his guitar slung overhis shoulder.
“Hey.”
“Hey, yourself.” I smiled.
“Did I see you with Viktor this morning?”His blue eyes narrowed slightly.
“You did.” I wanted to ask him why he wasViktor’s friend, but thought better of it. I had no idea if he wasinvolved in the car theft gang or not.
He pulled me off to the side, away from allthe traffic in the hall. “Be careful. He’s dangerous.”
“Dangerous?”
“Let’s just say I’ve had a few run-ins withhim, and it wasn’t pretty.” He kept his voice low as we walked downthe hall, leaning close together.
“But I thought you were his friend.”
“I play my part well, then.”
“Seriously? You hang out with him, but youdon’t like him?”
He nodded. “His family—”
“Amber!” Jericho interrupted. “You enjoyingyour new laptop?” He tapped my forearm.
Carson took a step back from me, and my eyesflicked from him to Jericho. “Are you kidding? It’s fabulous. Thankyou again.” Why had Carson stepped back like that?
“I’m not the one you should be thanking. Itwas Wind who gave it to you.” Despite his words, I could see hetotally wanted to claim the credit. “Come on, Carson. We don’t wantto be late for calculus.” He motioned with his head in thedirection of their class.
Carson pressed his lips together beforesaying, “We’ll finish this discussion later.” He smiled and thenmouthed. “Be careful.”
What did he know? I couldn’t imagine himbeing a part of the gang, but who would think Karina or Gina wouldbe, either? I looked around the students rushing through the halland wondered how many of the student body were somehow involvedwith the thefts. Had Kozlov been right that there were at leasttwenty kids under S-Dub roaming the halls of this school?
I rushed to class so I wouldn’t be late. Atlunch, Viktor tried to get me to sit with him, but I chose to sitwith Karina, Gina, Hank, and the nerdy boys who had saved me fromsocial suicide instead. I kept hoping Carson would come to me andfinish what he’d started, but I didn’t even see him in thelunchroom.
“I think they look great, Hank.” Karinasmiled widely, and while her teeth weren’t perfectly straight,Hank’s were, and his braces were gone.
“Wow, Hank. Your teeth look great. Feel abit slimy?” I’d never forget that first day after getting my bracesoff and how slick and slimy my teeth felt for a few days.
“Yep! But I don’t care. It’s awesome havingthem off.” He leaned in toward the middle of the table. “Do youthink Kara will go out with me now?” When he said her name, helooked toward a table to our left where I assumed she wassitting.
“Which one is she?” I asked.
“The one with the long black hair andsun-kissed skin.”
I smiled. She was a beauty, her orientalheritage gifting her all good things. “Has she turned you downbefore?”
“No,” he admitted. “But I figured a girllike that wouldn’t want to date a brace-face.”
“I bet she’s dying to go out with you,” Isaid. I noticed a slight scowl cross Karina’s face. Was she hopinghe’d ask her out?
“I can’t wait to get braces. I hate myteeth.” Karina’s hands flew to her mouth.
“When are you getting them?” Hank asked.
“Well, our insurance won’t pay for them, andmy parents don’t have the money, so I got a job to pay for them.Hopefully I’ll have enough by the end of the year.”
“Man. That’s harsh, Karina. I can’t believeyou have to pay for them yourself. If you want my opinion, though,I don’t think you need them.” Hank patted her hand.
“Really?” She blushed slightly.
“Really.”
“Oh, I don’t know. This one overlaps thatone, and it bugs me.” She pointed to a pair of teeth that werecrowded.
“Well, if it bugs you that much, I mightknow someone who would give you a good deal, considering you’reearning the money yourself. He’s super nice. I’ll talk to him.”
“Seriously? That would be great, Hank. Thankyou.”
“No problem.”
They smiled at each other and moved on toanother topic. In just a few short days, I’d found Hank to becompletely genuine and kind-hearted. It was a relief to be aroundhim—he had nothing to do with the mafia, and he was just a purelygood kid. It was nice to have that respite from the darkness of mymission. Maybe his goodness would rub off on Karina and pull heraway from the path she was heading down.
I stared at Karina. Had she started with themafia to pay for her braces? My heart broke a
